Detector Electronics Corporation

Frederick J Schuler

John D King

An optical fire detector employs two or more sensors operating a different spectral bands. The spectral bands are selected to have approximately coincident cut-off wavelengths in order to make the detector's ability to positively identify a fire more uniform over its field of view. The use of three overlapping spectral bands provides the detector with enhanced detection capabilities for large, hot fires that behave like black body radiators.

Fire detection method and apparatus using overlapping spectral bands

A radiation detector having wide-range sensitivity is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a radiation detector for detecting a radiation condition is provided. The radiation detector includes a plurality of sensors each of which detect radiation in a spectral band and output an analog signal in response to the amount of radiation in the spectral band, a converter system associated with each of the sensors for converting each analog signal to a digital signal, and a processor coupled to the converter system for using the digital signals to output a detection signal. The converter system has a sensitivity range which includes a minimum magnitude and a maximum magnitude of the analog signals. The processor can detect the radiation condition in an environment which concurrently induces the minimum magnitude in the analog signal of one of the sensors, and the maximum magnitude in the analog signal of a different one of the sensors. The radiation detector may, for example, be a fire detector which detects fire conditions such as unwanted or potentially dangerous fires or flames.

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Lakeville, MN, United States of America

Frederick J Schuler